Automatic extinguisher for car-stoves



(No Model.)

H. LEVOY 80F; DAGWELL.

AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHER FOR GAR STOVES.

Patented June 4,1889.

FIG-.1.

FIG-2.

[yr enters I est.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN LEVOY AND FRANK DAGWELL, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHER FOR CAR- STOVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,420, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed January 29, 1889. Serial No. 298,032. (No model.)

extinguisher that will automatically discharge a stream of water into a car-stove the instant a collision occurs, and thereby prevent the addition al horrors of a conflagration. To accomplish this result we provide an, elevated tank or reservoir, which is so suspended from the end, side, or ceiling of the car as not to be affected by the vibrations of the latter, and said reservoir has at its bottom a valve-guarded pipe leading into the stove or similar heater. This valve has a stem, the upper end of which is permanently secured to the ceiling or to any attachment to the upper part of the car,

and when the apparatus is in its normal position this stem holds the valve to its seat'in the suspended reservoir, thereby preventing Water or other extinguishing-fluid escaping into the stove; but the instant a collision occurs the crushing in of the end or side of the car, or the upheaval of the ceiling or floor of the same, so changes the position of the reservoir or stem as to cause an opening of the valve, and a consequent discharge of water directly into the stove, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a passenger-car provided with our improved extinguisher, a portion of the stove being sectioned. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the tank or reservoir and its attachments.

A represents the floor, B the end, C the side, and D the ceiling or roof, of a passenger-car, which floor has any approved form of stove or other heater E immovably secured thereto.

F is a tank or reservoir forcontainingwater or any other fire-extinguishing fluid, which tank is freely suspended from springs G G,

attached to brackets H H, projecting from the end and side of the car. This tank is preferably a cylinder having at bottom a seat I for the valve J, which latter is carried by a stem K, occupying an axial position within said tank, the upper end of this stem being M is a rigid discharge-pipeleading from thetank to the upper part of the stove E. The discharging end of this pipe traverses a collar N, which is bolted to the stove, the opening in said collar being of such a size as to permit a limited play or movement of said pipe.

This apparatus is preferably located in a corner of the car, the bracket II being attached to the end B, and the other bracket H being secured to the side C of the car. The springs G G are then arranged so as to normally elevate the tank and thus maintain the valve J against the seat I, which valve cannot shift from its proper position, because the stem K is secured to the ceiling D. Furthermore, the tank is coupled to the stove E by the metallic pipe M. After these various parts are thus arranged, the tank F is charged with water or other fire-extinguishing fluid, as seen in Fig. 2, and the apparatus is ready for use.

From the above description it is evident that the springs G G serve as yielding supports, that compensate for the Ordinary vibrations of the car, and thus prevent the valve J being opened when there is no necessity for the fire in the stove being extinguished; but the instant a collision occurs said valve is automatically opened. If the collision should result in smashing the end B of the car, the bracket II would naturally fall, thereby canting the reservoir F over to one side, 011 account of the pipe M playing sufficiently Within the collar N, and allowing such an opening between the valve J and its seat I as to discharge the contents of said reservoir directly into the stove E, with the result of speedily extinguishing the fire in the latter. Any smashing in of the side C of the car would cause the other bracket II to drop, and then the apparatus would operate, as above described; but if the roof D of the car should be lifted the valve J would then be pulled out of its seat I, and the water would at once run into the stove and put out the fire. An upheaval of the floor A would produce a similar result, because the stove E is connected to the tank F by the metallic pipe M, and therefore any pitching of said stove, either to the front or rear or to the right or left, would throw said tank out of its normal perpendicular position and cause a discharge of its fluid contents; hence it is apparent that our apparatus is at all times read 5* for use, an d is automatically brought into service the instant it is needed and without requiring the attention of any of the train-n'ien.

\Ve claim as our invention-- 1. In combination with a car-stove, a tank suspended by yielding supports, a pipe leading from the discharge-opening of said tank to said stove, a valve controlling said opening, and a stem that coni'ieets said valve with the upper part of the ear, substantially as herein described.

In combination with a ear-stow, as E, the tank F,suspended by springs G G, attached to brackets 1T ll, a pipe M, leading from the seat I of said tank to said stove, a valve J, controlling the opening of said seat, and a stem K, that connects said valve with the upper part of the car, as herein described.

A flexibly-s11spended tank connected by a metallic pipe to a fixed cal-stove, the discharging end 0t said pipe being free to move within the stove-coupling, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose stated,

In testimoi'iy whereof we ailix our signatures in presei'iee of two witnesses.

HERMAN LEVOY. FRANK DAGlVElJL.

Witnesses:

JAMEs IL LAYMAN, S. S. CARPENTER. 

